Real Madrid News
Bellingham rejected five English clubs, including Man City, Arsenal, to join Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund announced the departure of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid yesterday, in what was a major milestone for the club heading into the summer transfer window.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has signed a six-year contract with Los Blancos, who are set to pay €103 million for his services. Bellingham will undoubtedly be Real Madrid’s marquee signing for the season ahead, but signing the Englishman was not easy by any means.
According to Jose Luis Sanchez, Bellingham had knocked back a series of Premier League clubs before signing for Real Madrid. The Spanish journalist points out Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea as the list of clubs Bellingham had turned down.
These are essentially the five of the ‘Big Six’ clubs in the Premier League, which goes on to show how much Bellingham wanted to be a part of the Real Madrid project.
It must be noted that joining Man City could have been an easy way out for Bellingham, especially with the chance to reunite with former Dortmund teammate and close friend Erling Haaland. But the youngster had no intention of joining an ‘oil club’.
Liverpool were touted as another potential destination for the former Birmingham City starlet. But the player ultimately opted for a move to Real Madrid, where he could become the face of the club’s midfield unit in the years to come.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are not expected to hold back in the summer transfer window even after securing Bellingham. The club might go after a new striker, after freshly losing Karim Benzema on a free transfer to Al-Ittihad.
Reports suggest Real Madrid could end up investing around €300-400 million in the market this summer. That implies Bellingham will just be the start of a busy summer ahead, as the club look to significantly strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
In a season where Real Madrid have largely struggled to keep pace with leaders Barcelona, Arda Guler has been one of the few bright sparks.
Despite his limited minutes, the Turkish international has shown that he is capable of becoming a first-team regular for Los Blancos, especially at a time when others, including Vinicius Jr. are struggling to make an impact.
Guler was notably named in Real Madrid’s five-player star of the month for September and the player could soon be rewarded with a contract extension as well.
New contract for Arda Guler
According to AS, Guler has agreed terms for a new deal at Real Madrid, in what could be the club’s first major renewal for the new season.
The young Turk’s current deal at the Bernabeu expires in 2029. But the renewal will ensure his future at the club at least until 2031.
The new contract will effectively acknowledge Guler’s growing role in the Real Madrid first-team and include a salary-increase.
The negotiations between the two parties had started last month and has now come to fruition, with Guler more than happy to continue his chapter at Real Madrid.
He also joins a long list of Real Madrid players with long-term contracts, including Yan Diomande, Vinicius Jr., Marc Cucurella, Aurelien Tchouameni and others.
An important season ahead
With the contract likely to be finalised soon, Arda Guler’s main goal will be continue to his form when the season restarts next weekend.
The forward has been involved in four goals in seven matches this season. With Vinicius and Diomande struggling for form, the Turkish international will have an excellent opportunity to become a regular starter for Jose Mourinho throughout the course of the campaign.
Mourinho, for his part, must identify how to get the best out of both Guler and an in-form Jude Bellingham. If the two can somehow work together in the final third, Real Madrid could find themselves dominating most matches.
